India suspends tourist visas of Chinese nationals in tit-for-tat move

In March, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had taken up the issue with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during the latter's visit to India

India has suspended tourist visas issued to Chinese nationals as the neighbour has not allowed entry for Indian students enrolled there despite New Delhi raising it.

The global airline body International Air Transport Association (IATA) referred the suspension of tourist visas to Chinese nationals in a circular issued on April 20 regarding India.

"Tourist visas issued to nationals of China (People's Republic) are no longer valid," the circular said.

Also Read: One leg in Quad boat, another in BRICS cannot work for long

It said nationals of Bhutan, India, Maldives and Nepal, passengers with a residence permit issued by India, passengers with visa or an e-visa issued by India, passengers with an overseas citizen of India (OCI) card or booklet, passengers with a persons of Indian origin (PIO) card and passengers with a diplomatic passport are allowed to enter India. It said that tourist visas with a validity of 10 years are no longer valid.

With around 22,000 Indian students enrolled in Chinese universities unable to return for physical classes, India has been continuously bringing to China's notice their plight.

Students left China in the midst of studies as the Covid-19 pandemic struck the country and elsewhere. So far, Beijing has refused to let them return to complete their studies despite repeated pleas from the government and students.

Also Read: Sri Lanka crisis: India's benign diplomacy wins over China's stifling embrace

The Ministry of External Affairs had earlier asked China to adopt a "congenial stance" in the matter as the continuation of the strict restrictions is putting the academic careers of thousands of Indian students in jeopardy.

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said that China was looking into the matter in a coordinated manner and that arrangements for allowing foreign students to return to China were being examined.

"But let me clarify that till date, the Chinese side has not given any categorical response about the return of Indian students. We will continue to urge the Chinese side to adopt a congenial stance in the interest of our students and that they facilitate an early return to China so that our students can pursue their studies," Bagchi had said in March.

Watch the latest DH Videos here: